TDEC Plans Public Meeting
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TDEC Plans Public Meeting
By Shane Gilreath
[email protected]
As reported last week by SCN, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) will be in Scott County on November 4th, tentatively at Oneida High School. TDEC’s Divisions of Solid Waste Management, Water Resources, and Air Pollution Control plan to host a public meeting to address community concerns surrounding two major waste projects which have raised alarms in Scott County: the proposed Roberta II landfill and transfer station in North Scott County and concern raised over an application for a leachate evaporation system for the Volunteer Regional.
According to documents obtained by SCN, while production could help control contaminant emissions into the air, the permit would also require changes that would ultimately double the facility’s leachate evaporation, already an environmental concern to local residents. Leachate, as SCN has reported, occurs when water filtrates through a landfill, picking up contaminants as it moves through decomposing garbage. As it does so, it carries with it chemicals, heavy metals, organic matter, and other hazardous substances –some of which are PFAS, or “forever chemicals” – which have caused major public health concerns in areas across the country.
Local residents have strongly voiced opposition to the projects on the grounds of environmental degradation and public health, regarding how the industries might impact air quality, water safety, and the overall environmental health in the region. The Roberta II proposal alone has raised deep concern about long-term impacts from waste management and the potential groundwater and air contamination, which could potentially impact a large mass of land and thousands of people in a multi-state area, ranging from Tennessee and Kentucky to the Gulf Coast
In an effort to ensure transparency and community input, Cumberland Clear, a local citizen-based environmental organization, has been tasked by TDEC to gather public questions ahead of the meeting. According to statements made at last week’s Cumberland Clear meeting, residents are encouraged to submit questions and comments via CumberlandClear.org by October 16th.
TDEC officials have emphasized that residents will both have the chance to submit written questions in advance and speak directly during the meeting.
“TDEC has stated they want to hear all community concerns, not just on the leachate evaporator,” the organizations said. “This is our chance to speak up.”
